Jamaica Tallawahs 127 (Phillips 41, Lewis 27, Lamichhane 2-17) beat Barbados Tridents 122 for 9 (Charles 31, Reifer 26, Imran 3-19, Springer 3-32) by five runs

Glenn Phillips or nothing. That is the perception Jamaica Tallawahs had built around themselves so far in CPL 2019. All that changed on Monday, after their bowlers came to the party to defend a modest 127, fuelled by Phillips' 41 and a late 22-ball 27 from No. 9 Ramaal Lewis. This helped them beat Barbados Tridents by five runs and notch up their second win in eight games but not before a late scare from Raymon Reifer, whose quickfire 26 brought the equation down to six runs off three deliveries at one stage.

Sandeep Lamichhane, who earlier in the day ended with 2 for 17 in his final CPL game of the season, had the opportunity to hit the final ball for a six and win the game for his side. He couldn't and Tridents slumped to their eighth successive loss at home across seasons. They are, however, still fourth on the points table, one point separating them and the bottom-ranked St Lucia Zouks.

Among those in the crowd were Garry Sobers, the all-time great, and Jofra Archer, the Barbados-born World Cup winner with England. Archer, seen having a keen eye on the contest, would've particularly loved bowling on this Kensington Oval deck, the same one on which England were bowled out for 77 and 246 in a 381-run loss against West Indies earlier this year.

A reprieve and a stunner

Jason Holder had Chris Gayle chop on in the second over to give Tridents a dream start. Things could've been even better for Holder in his second over but Phillips was reprieved on 16 when he top-edged a pull that swirled high only for wicketkeeper Johnson Charles and the slip fielder to leave it to the other even as both ran back for the catch. In the end, neither managed to get a hand on the ball. The missed chance of Charles was somewhat compensated by Ashley Nurse's anticipation at slip. He moved instinctively to his right and Chadwick Walton's thick outside edge to a drive off legspinner Lamichhane stuck in his outstretched right hand.

Phillips, Smith and the late finish

Phillips mellowed down quickly after the top-order wobble, slipping into accumulation mode, but it didn't help that his senior partners kept letting him down. Dwayne Smith, not picked in the draft by the Tridents, had the opportunity to prove them wrong. Having hit three of his four CPL centuries at this venue, he walked in with Tallawahs 51 for 3 and walked off to leave them 55 for 4 after a mistimed pull to deep midwicket to give Lamichhane his second wicket. It was his fourth single-digit score since being summoned as an injury replacement.

Phillips followed suit and soon the innings was on a downward spiral until a rain break, with Tallawahs on 108 for 8 in 18.3 overs, brought about a change in luck. After resumption, Lewis carted left-arm seamer Raymon Reifer for consecutive sixes in the final over, as the last nine balls produced 19 runs. Tallawahs suddenly had something to defend.

Tridents collapse after bright start

Alex Hales took a liking to George Worker's left-arm spin by hitting him for a four and two sixes before Jade Dernbach's brilliant catch at backward square leg terminated Hales' innings in the fourth over. Three balls later, Zahir Khan reprieved Charles at short fine leg, and the Tridents wicketkeeper steadied himself thereafter to make 31. After missing a stumping and fumbling a bit earlier in the day, this could've been a shot at redemption, but Charles, who saw JP Duminy and Jonathan Carter fall around him, failed while attempting a desperate pull. That left Tridents five down, with 50 still to get off 34 balls.

Reifer threatens a heist

Tridents needed 30 from 12 balls. Reifer, whose stance and batting style resembles that of former West Indies wicketkeeper Ridley Jacobs, feasted on some loose bowling as Tallawahs went into meltdown mode. Shamar Springer, a hero until that point with figures of 3 for 17 from three overs, got clobbered for two fours and a six in a 15-run over. When he went full, Reifer belted him over long-off. He bowled length, only to be swatted to deep midwicket. Then he tried a slower ball but was forehanded over mid-off.

Smith now had a chance to redeem himself in the final over but saw his second ball smacked out of the ground at deep midwicket. Eight required from four now. Gayle and Walton had in a mini-conference with the bowler. Smith went full, and Reifer took two to long-off. With six needed off three, he bowled full and wide this time, Reifer reached out but holed out to deep cover. That there was the game.

Cricket Australia has moved to avoid a repeat of the controversial World Cup final in the BBL and WBBL by adjusting the playing regulations to ensure that further Super Overs take place, instead of a boundary countback, in the event of a tied game and a tied Super Over.

England's win in the World Cup on a boundary countback when scores were level after both 100 overs and the Super Over against New Zealand caused a lot of discussion and debate in the aftermath.

Cricket Australia explored all options of how to resolve such a scenario if it were to happen in a BBL or WBBL final. It has occurred twice in the WBBL where tied Super Overs have resulted in games being decided by the boundary count.

CA decided in the event of a tied Super Over, playing further Super Overs was the logical solution. This will apply to all finals in the BBL and WBBL. In the event of tied games and then tied Super Overs in home and away fixtures in both competitions the points are split.

One of the issues CA had to deal with was some grounds around Australia, like the SCG, have a curfew on when the lights must be turned off, which in the event of multiple Super Overs of a night fixture could cause the game to remain uncompleted. The WBBL also has some double-headers which could cause time constraints for further Super Overs to be completed if the next game needs to start.

Cricket Australia added a provision to the playing conditions that states, "In circumstances where Cricket Australia has unavoidable time restraints, such as, but not limited to, double-header semi-finals, it shall limit the number of possible super overs and advise teams either pre-match, or prior to the final super over. In the case of a tied super over under (such) circumstances then, the higher placed team will be declared the winner."

CA's head of Big Bash Leagues, Alistair Dobson, said multiple Super Overs was the best way to resolve a tie. "We hope that allowing for multiple Super Overs in WBBL and BBL Finals will provide our teams and fans with the best possible experience," he said. We look forward to another competitive season for both leagues and believe we have a strong system in place should a nail-biting knockout match arise."

LANDOVER, Md. -- The Washington Redskins proved the perfect remedy for struggling Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky.

After coming under intense scrutiny for not throwing a touchdown pass in either of Chicago's first two games, Trubisky passed for three touchdowns, all of them to wide receiver Taylor Gabriel, before halftime in Monday night's 31-15 win against Washington.

Trubisky finished the first half 20-of-23 for 173 yards and three touchdowns (137.6 quarterback rating), the most completions in a first half in the young quarterback's career. He finished the game 25-of-31 for 231 yards, with his lone blemish an interception to Josh Norman at the Washington 6-yard line late in the third quarter.

Gabriel became the first Bears receiver with three receiving touchdowns in a game since Brandon Marshall in 2014.

"I want to give credit to Mitch," head coach Matt Nagy said after the game. "He had a really good week of practice. He was very mentally prepared. He's mentally strong. He understands that throughout this process, there's a lot of weight on his shoulders to do well ... I like where he's at. We're slowly getting better."

Trubisky's first two touchdowns to Gabriel both occurred inside the 5-yard line, but the 25-year-old quarterback's third touchdown toss was arguably his best play of the season to date.

On third-and-17 from the Redskins' 36-yard line, Washington's pass rush forced Trubisky to move up in the pocket and slide to the left. On the move, Trubisky fired a pass downfield to Gabriel near the front right corner of the end zone. Gabriel was initially ruled out of bounds, but the replay clearly showed that the veteran receiver got both feet in bounds, and the call was reversed.

"I think we're still growing and evolving as an offense," Trubisky said. "I don't know if I'd call it a breakthrough yet. We got to keep getting better, keep growing. Definitely room for improvement and definitely in the second half, especially on my part. If we just stick to the process and keep growing and keep learning and sticking together, we're going to be all right."

The Bears desperately needed Trubisky -- drafted second overall in 2017 -- to have a good showing at FedEx Field after he sputtered through the first two weeks of the regular season.

Through two games in 2019, Trubisky's completion percentage (58.3), passing yards (348), touchdowns (zero), Total QBR (27.5), yards per attempt (4.8) and number of attempts that traveled 10-plus yards in the air (16) were substantially worse than his play in the opening two games of the 2018 season, according to ESPN Stats & Information.

The Bears faced third-and-7 or worse on 16 of 26 conversion attempts (62%) against Green Bay and Denver. Last season, the Bears needed seven or more yards on just 43% of their third-down plays.

On Monday, Trubisky proved prolific on third down, going 10-for-11 for 133 yards and a touchdown.

Washington entered Week 3 with the second-worst passing defense by total QBR.

PHOENIX -- Paul Goldschmidt hit a two-run home run on Monday in his return to Chase Field as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals.

The 32-year-old Goldschmidt spent the first eight seasons of his career with the Arizona Diamondbacks and was a fan favorite during his tenure. He hit .297 with 209 homers and 710 RBIs in his eight years in the desert, helping the franchise make the playoffs in 2011 and 2017.

The Diamondbacks honored Goldschmidt with a tribute video before the game that highlighted some of his best moments. He got a big ovation before his first at-bat in the first inning, in which he drew a walk.

In the third, he drove a changeup from Alex Young over the right-center-field fence for his 32nd homer of the year. It was his 100th career homer at Chase Field, which is a stadium record. He finished 2-for-4 with a walk and a strikeout to go with the home run in a 9-7 win.

Goldschmidt was traded during the offseason for catcher Carson Kelly, pitcher Luke Weaver, infielder Andy Young and a draft pick.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

LOS ANGELES -- Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Nate Schmidt still cares whether you believe he's a cheater -- almost as much as he cares about never seeing another player go through the humiliation he has endured.

"No one in the world can say that they don't care that people think they're a cheater," Schmidt told ESPN after a Knights preseason game last week.

"If I'm the last guy it ever happens to, I'm OK with that."

After being suspended for the first 20 games of the 2018-19 season for violating the NHL/NHL Players Association Performance Enhancing Substances Program, Schmidt said he has worked with the NHLPA in an effort to change the league's minimum threshold for a PED violation.

The topic has been discussed recently as part of the ongoing collective bargaining talks between the players and the NHL, and there's reason for optimism that the policy will be amended.

"I knew the NHL and the NHLPA were putting the final touches on, and trying to amend, the testing system," Schmidt said. "Once I heard there were some possible changes, some dialogue about it, that's when I started to feel better about what happened."

On Sept. 2, 2018, the NHL announced that Schmidt had been suspended, without pay, for testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance. The 20-game ban was notable for its rarity, as Schmidt was the fifth NHL player suspended for PEDs since the league's current CBA was ratified in 2013. The most recent suspension before that was in 2016.

It was also notable for the pushback it received from the Golden Knights, who emphatically stood by their player and signed him to a six-year contract extension, and from Schmidt himself, who released a detailed statement vehemently denying PED use. Among the memorable defenses: an expert testifying that the substance in Schmidt's system was at levels so minuscule that it was "the equivalent of a pinch of salt in an Olympic-sized swimming pool."

He returned to the ice after 20 games, playing 61 games on the season and putting up 30 points. His agent, Matt Keator, said that's just how Schmidt is wired.

"He's such a resilient kid," Keator said. "He saw this as a bump in the road. He used this to strengthen himself. It was motivation to prove himself. And obviously, with that contract, Vegas believed in him."

His game was back. But Schmidt believes his reputation never fully recovered.

"You only get one name," he said. "It means a lot to me and to my family. That's the part that really bummed me out: My mom and dad, my brother and my sister and my family, them going through that stuff, that was the hardest part. I know that my family will love me no matter what. But it was hard."

Schmidt paused, looked skyward and composed himself.

"Sorry," he continued. "It's an emotional thing. It's an emotional time in your life."

Both Schmidt and Keator stressed that they have no desire to relitigate the past.

"The people closest to me feel like it's been resolved, and that's the most important support factor for me," Schmidt said.

Now Schmidt wants to influence the future of PED testing in the NHL.

Both his agent and the NHLPA confirm that Schmidt has been a "passionate" voice in trying to get the testing thresholds raised. While these discussions would have likely occurred anyway during the CBA talks, Schmidt raised so much awareness about the perceived injustice of his suspension that it served as an important example for why the standards might need to be amended.

The NHL declined to comment when asked about those discussions.

Schmidt wouldn't offer specifics about what changes he's seeking, but he hasn't been all that specific about the details of his positive test, either -- other than unambiguously stating that he disagreed with his suspension.

"Throughout my playing career I have been tested numerous times, including twice last season, and I have never before tested positive. It was utterly shocking to be informed that I tested positive for a microscopic amount of a tainted substance. Not only did I not intentionally take a banned substance, I could not have received any performance enhancement benefit from the trace amount that inadvertently got into my system at a level that was far too small to have any effect. This low amount was consistent with environmental contamination that I could not possibly have prevented," he said in a statement last September.

The working theory, multiple sources have told ESPN, is that Schmidt's positive test was the result of his consuming tainted meat.

If that sounds familiar, it's the same argument made by boxer Canelo Alvarez in 2018. He tested positive twice for clenbuterol, a substance used by farmers in Mexico in their cattle feed to reduce fat and increase lean muscle mass. A hair sample taken from Alvarez didn't detect any performance-enhancing drugs. An expert did the same with Schmidt's hair and "concluded there was no evidence of intentional use," according to the player's statement last year.

It hasn't been easy for Schmidt after the suspension. He said he started to work through his bitterness in the second half of the season, concentrating on helping the Knights back to the playoffs.

"That was from a hockey standpoint," he said. "But my job wasn't done. I didn't want that to happen to another player."

As he enters his seventh NHL season and third with the Vegas Golden Knights, Schmidt admitted that getting the NHL's PED system changed could, in some small way, change perceptions about his own "cheating." If the thresholds were seen to be too low -- something the World Anti-Doping Agency is reportedly looking into as well -- then Schmidt's positive test would seem unmerited in hindsight. If the testing standards were amended, then his suspension would be viewed as unwarranted.

Those would be the ancillary benefits to the NHL and the NHLPA coming together to change their minimum PED testing thresholds. But Schmidt said the main objective remains protecting other players from the embarrassment and frustration he suffered last season. He doesn't necessarily need that validation for himself.

"At the end of the day, I know I didn't do it," Schmidt said. "That's what gets me over the hump: that I can look in the mirror and know I didn't do it. And then get back to being me."

The Memphis Grizzlies and Andre Iguodala have mutually agreed to let him stay away from the team, sources confirmed to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

Memphis has no plans to negotiate a contract buyout and continues to expect that it will find a trade for Iguodala prior to the Feb. 6 deadline, sources said.

The Daily Memphian was first to report that Iguodala would be away from the team.

"... we're trying to figure out things on both sides," Iguodala told NBC Sports Bay Area in an interview published Monday. "They're trying to figure out some things, and I'm trying to figure out some things. As of today, we're on the same page. Camp opens the next week. We'll see. We're on the same page, though."

The Golden State Warriors sent Iguodala, who is due $17.2 million next season in the final year of his contract, along with a lightly protected 2024 first-round pick to the rebuilding Grizzlies because they needed to shed his salary to execute a three-team, sign-and-trade deal for All-Star guard D'Angelo Russell.

Iguodala, 35, a critical piece of the Warriors' three championships and five consecutive Finals appearances, is considered one of the league's elite wing defenders and is an excellent passer and threat off the dribble. He averaged 5.7 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game as Golden State's sixth man last season. Those averages increased to 9.8 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.0 assists during the playoffs, in which Iguodala started the majority of the games.

ESPN's Tim MacMahon contributed to this report.

The Chicago Cubs enter the final week of the regular season still holding out hope that they can chase down an NL wild-card spot but knowing they likely will have to do it without slugger Kris Bryant.

Bryant's agent, Scott Boras, wishes that weren't the case and believes Major League Baseball is to blame.

Bryant sprained his right ankle after landing awkwardly on a wet first-base bag while trying to beat a double play against the Cardinals on Sunday at Wrigley Field. An MRI on Monday revealed a Grade 2 sprain, a source told ESPN's Jesse Rogers, putting in doubt the third baseman's availability for the Cubs' final six games.

Boras, in comments to the Chicago Sun Times, questioned why major league officials haven't done more to ensure player safety. Another of his clients, Bryce Harper, suffered a significant bone bruise and hyperextended knee when he slipped on a wet base while a member of the Nationals in August 2017.

"What have they done since Harper? The answer is nothing," Boras told the Sun Times. "They're focused on other factors, economic factors, all things relating to how they can administer the game, and yet the safety of players and resolution of this issue has gone without any attention.

"The integrity of our game is going to [be] damaged when the safety of players is not at the forefront, and Major League Baseball has dropped the ball on the wet bag subject."

When Harper was hurt in 2017, Boras implored MLB to take steps to ensure that wet, slick bases weren't a safety hazard to players. In his eyes, those steps haven't been taken.

An MLB spokesperson told the Sun Times that the league has discussed the topic but has yet to find an adequate solution.

"To date, no one has come up with a bag that has proven to be better safety-wise than the bag we use now," the spokesperson told the newspaper.

Bryant, the 2016 NL MVP, is hitting .282 with 31 home runs and 77 RBIs this season. The Cubs are expected to have an official announcement on his status ahead of Tuesday's series opener against the Pirates in Pittsburgh. Bryant is traveling with the team, a source told Rogers, but if he's unable to play as expected, it's a significant blow to a team four games back in the wild-card race entering Monday.

"The issue for me is they've done nothing," Boras told the Sun Times, referring to MLB. "They have completely skirted this issue. They had an MVP player having an MVP season dramatically get hurt and miss time. It affects playoff races and the entire safety of players and the integrity of the game. When they are very diligent to get umpires and teams to play during rain, during precipitation, trying to get the games played.

"There's been no discussion, no resolution, absolutely nothing done in this area, except the player is to bear the burden of slippery and wet bags."

Heading into the last week of the season, the division races are almost all won, leaving the wild-card races to provide a bit of drama. You'll find some of that same balance between certainty and anticipation in this week's rankings. The voters unanimously selected the newly crowned American League West champion Astros our unanimous No. 1 over the challenges from the Dodgers and Yankees. They also rewarded the teams doing the best job of securing their wild-card bids, with the A's cracking the top five and the Brewers climbing up to No. 11.

This week -- with the Cubs' hopes now in dire straits as so many of their stars break down with injuries and while the Brewers have rallied in the absence of Christian Yelich -- we thought we'd take a look at the players who have done the most to help their teams, contenders and pretenders alike, shine this season.

For Week 25, our panel of voters was Bradford Doolittle, Christina Kahrl, Eric Karabell, Tim Kurkjian and David Schoenfield.

Previous: Preseason | Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6 | Week 7 | Week 8 | Week 9 | Week 10 | Week 11 | Week 12 | Week 13 | Week 14 | Week 15 | Week 16 | Week 17 | Week 18 | Week 19 | Week 20 | Week 21 | Week 22 | Week 23 | Week 24

1. Houston Astros
   2019 record: 102-54
   Week 24 ranking: 1

   While another World Series title would be nice, several awards should be coming Houston's way this fall. Right-hander Justin Verlander figures to earn his second Cy Young Award (he won with Detroit in 2011), likely holding off teammate Gerrit Cole. Meanwhile, rookie outfielder Yordan Alvarez boasts an OPS better than 1.000 and could end up knocking in a run per game. Sure, Alvarez has played barely half a big league season, but the numbers are ridiculous. Carlos Correa won top AL rookie honors in 2015, but he did not have numbers like these. -- Eric Karabell

   ICYMI: A superteam showdown? A historic rematch? The World Series matchups we want to see

2. Los Angeles Dodgers
   2019 record: 100-56
   Week 24 ranking: 2

   Cody Bellinger is not only the Dodgers' MVP for 2019, but probably the favorite to win the National League MVP, as well. Clayton Kershaw won MVP honors in 2014, but the last Dodgers position player to win was Kirk Gibson in 1988. With 8.6 bWAR entering Sunday, Bellinger has recorded just the 11th 8-WAR season by a position player in Dodgers history and the highest since Adrian Beltre's 9.6 in 2004. The others: Mike Piazza, Willie Davis, Duke Snider (three times), Jackie Robinson (three times) and Dan Brouthers. -- David Schoenfield

   ICYMI: How the Dodgers are better built for October than everyone else

3. New York Yankees
   2019 record: 102-55
   Week 24 ranking: 3

   Yankees fans like to spin DJ LeMahieu as an overall AL MVP candidate. He has been an amazing story, but he isn't on the level of Mike Trout or Alex Bregman. However, LeMahieu clearly is the team MVP with 6.0 WAR, plus some bonus points for his ability to play all over the field. LeMahieu leads the team in runs and RBIs and still has a shot at the AL batting crown. I guess he can hit outside of Coors Field.-- Schoenfield

   ICYMI: Severino's sizzling return shakes up October picture

4. Atlanta Braves
   2019 record: 96-61
   Week 24 ranking: 4

   Ronald Acuna Jr. and Freddie Freeman are potential top-five finishers in the NL MVP vote -- but they only rank third and fifth on the team in bWAR: Josh Donaldson 5.9, Mike Soroka 5.6, Acuna 5.5, Ozzie Albies 4.8, Freeman 4.6. Who do you have? I give the slightest of nods to Acuna. That power/speed combo at the top of the lineup sets the tone, plus he has started in center, left and right, with very good defensive metrics. -- Schoenfield

   ICYMI: Who was Braves' best addition to earn NL East repeat?

5. Oakland Athletics
   2019 record: 94-62
   Week 24 ranking: 6

   With 32 home runs and 120 runs scored, shortstop Marcus Semien clearly is having a season for the ages from the leadoff slot for the A's. But his 7.9 WAR also ranks 19th among MLB shortstops since 1947, and just three shortstops have delivered that kind of season in the past 20 years -- Hall of Famer Derek Jeter, Hall-worthy Alex Rodriguez and peer Francisco Lindor just last season. -- Christina Kahrl

   ICYMI: How the A's rebuilt a winner without tanking

6. Minnesota Twins
   2019 record: 96-60
   Week 24 ranking: 5

   Shortstop Jorge Polanco will not lead the Twins in home runs or RBIs, but he is the clear club leader in wins above replacement and makes the strongest case for Twins MVP. Yes, five Twins have surpassed 30 home runs, but Polanco is by far the leader in hits and total bases. A year ago, Polanco served an 80-game PED suspension, and while he hit in the second half, few viewed him as a potential star. Prospect Nick Gordon figured to displace Polanco at some point. Few are talking about that now. Good for Polanco, a rock for the likely AL Central champs in the No. 2 lineup spot and at shortstop. -- Karabell

7. Tampa Bay Rays
   2019 record: 92-64
   Week 24 ranking: 7

   The Rays might or might not reach the playoffs, but they've already topped 90 wins. They have one position player (Willy Adames) with a chance to play in 150 games and just one pitcher anywhere close to qualifying for the ERA title. That pitcher, Charlie Morton, has been the one Rays starter who has simply been there for the team all season. He is going to end up with 33 starts and over 190 innings, with a 143 ERA+. The Rays might have been able to piece together his innings total had Morton thrown, say, 100 IP. But thanks to him, they didn't have to, and his performance would have been tough to replicate even with Tampa Bay's hive approach to roster building. -- Bradford Doolittle

   ICYMI: What do the Rays have to do to make the playoffs?

8. St. Louis Cardinals
   2019 record: 89-67
   Week 24 ranking: 8

   Four critical victories in Chicago during the weekend have the Cardinals on the verge of clinching the NL Central title, having already earned at least a wild-card spot. It has been a total team effort of late, with numerous Cardinals players standing out. But one in particular has been veteran right-hander Adam Wainwright: He has won four consecutive starts to begin September, with an 0.33 ERA in those games. -- Tristan H. Cockcroft

   ICYMI: Cards close in on postseason return at Cubs' expense

9. Cleveland Indians
   2019 record: 92-64
   Week 24 ranking: 10

   Projection systems such as ZiPS of FanGraphs' Dan Szymborski picked Shane Bieber as a big breakout player in 2019. But seeing that on the page is one thing; watching it unfold over six months of baseball is another. Bieber has posted a league-best walk rate, he leads the majors in complete games and shutouts, his 10.9 K/9 rates in MLB's top 10 -- and we would not be talking about the Indians' shot at winning an AL wild card if not for his stepping up during the same season that saw Cleveland lose former Cy Young winner Corey Kluber to injury. -- Kahrl

   ICYMI: Inside the Indians' season-long domination of the Tigers

10. Washington Nationals
    2019 record: 85-69
    Week 24 ranking: 9

    Anthony Rendon has earned himself a massive payout this winter as a free agent with a season that could win him NL MVP honors. He finished fifth in 2014 and sixth in 2017, but he will go higher this year. He is right up there with Cody Bellinger and Christian Yelich as the top three favorites. And with Yelich missing the final two-plus weeks and Bellinger fading a bit down the stretch, Rendon could steals honors after hitting .351 in the second half with 58 RBIs in 65 games. -- Schoenfield

    ICYMI: Scherzer no lock to start wild-card game for Nats

11. Milwaukee Brewers
    2019 record: 86-70
    Week 24 ranking: 13

    The question isn't whether Christian Yelich is the most valuable player in Milwaukee, it's whether he is once again the NL MVP -- and that question remains open. However, that Yelich is head and shoulders above his teammates only underscores how special it is that the Brewers have rolled on even after his season was ended by a broken kneecap. Milwaukee had won 10 of 12 since Yelich last played on Sept. 10, and his replacement, rookie Trent Grisham, has filled in effectively. -- Doolittle

    ICYMI: Yelich talks about his injury

12. Chicago Cubs
    2019 record: 82-74
    Week 24 ranking: 11

    The MVP of the Cubs' season is a little difficult to suss out. Kris Bryant is probably the best player. Javier Baez remains the most dynamic and has a huge impact defensively. But I'll go with Anthony Rizzo as the best combination of all the above. On a team that has been less than the sum of its parts for two seasons in a row, Rizzo has flourished situationally, with a big edge on Bryant and, especially, Baez in win probably added. On the intangible front, his early return from a badly sprained ankle for this weekend's huge series against St. Louis was Willis Reed stuff. Rizzo is the heart and soul of the Cubs. -- Doolittle

    ICYMI: Even Rizzo's magic can't save these Cubs

13. Boston Red Sox
    2019 record: 81-74
    Week 24 ranking: 12

    For any grief outgoing Red Sox baseball ops honcho Dave Dombrowski has and will receive, he figures to be able to point to the six-year, $120 million extension he gave to Xander Bogaerts as a big positive. Boston's World Series defense was a dud, but don't blame Bogaerts. He delivered the goods after signing his big deal this past offseason, establishing career highs in virtually every offensive category, playing improved defense and looking like a foundation piece for a Red Sox team that potentially faces significant change in the near future. -- Steve Richards

    ICYMI: Why nobody might want to be Boston's GM

14. New York Mets
    2019 record: 81-74
    Week 24 ranking: 14

    Rookie Pete Alonso and versatile stalwart Jeff McNeil have definitely been the most valuable Mets hitters this season, but give credit to outfielder Michael Conforto for reaching 30 home runs for the first time. Conforto might never graduate to top-10 status among major league outfielders, but there is a statistical baseline for reliable power, a strong walk rate and competent defense. And at 26 years old, he can still improve. Better results versus left-handed pitching would be nice, and he is not really a center fielder, but Conforto has become a reliable, if occasionally overlooked, performer. -- Karabell

    ICYMI: Law on how McNeil surpassed preseason expectations

15. Arizona Diamondbacks
    2019 record: 80-76
    Week 24 ranking: 15

    Ketel Marte won't win the NL MVP, but he is just outside the inner circle of contenders in one of the most surprising breakout seasons of 2019. Heck, he even had an All-Star team named after him. Placing sixth in baseball in WAR among position players, as well as seventh in slugging and OPS, plus having the versatility to play center field, second base and even a little shortstop, will do that for you. -- Richards

    ICYMI: Back injury ends Marte's season

16. Philadelphia Phillies
    2019 record: 79-75
    Week 24 ranking: 16

    The Phillies will look to lock up catcher J.T. Realmuto to a long-term contract this offseason. Realmuto sailed past career bests in home runs and runs batted in, and his excellent work throwing out potential base stealers should result in his first Gold Glove recognition. Myriad Phillies are to blame for the disappointing season -- from the rotation to the injured bullpen to the inconsistent offense -- and, clearly, management gets no pass. But Realmuto, acquired from the Marlins in February, has been awesome. -- Karabell

    ICYMI: Are Phillies MLB's biggest disappointment of 2019?

17. Cincinnati Reds
    2019 record: 72-83
    Week 24 ranking: 18

    Eugenio Suarez continued to build on his historic season despite the Reds' elimination last week. Suarez hit home run No. 48 on Wednesday, moving him within four of George Foster's 42-year-old franchise record, and he now has batted .358/.442/.806 with nine homers in 19 games in September. He has been one of the team's better stories in an otherwise forgettable year. -- Cockcroft

    ICYMI: Castillo, Suarez rank among Law's biggest surprises of 2019

18. Texas Rangers
    2019 record: 75-81
    Week 24 ranking: 17

    As flawed as WAR might be in judging pitchers, if one of your guys leads baseball in that category for virtually the whole season, it's hard to argue he isn't your MVP. That applies to the Rangers' Mike Minor, who just in the past week or so was passed by Justin Verlander but still ranks second among MLB pitchers with a 7.5 WAR. Of course, Minor's teammate Lance Lynn is just behind Minor with 6.7 WAR, fourth in baseball, and also is fourth in FanGraphs WAR at 6.0, while Minor is 19th in fWAR (4.0). So take your pick. -- Richards

19. San Francisco Giants
    2019 record: 75-81
    Week 24 ranking: 19

    Let's accentuate the positive here and celebrate Madison Bumgarner getting back over 30 starts and 200 innings pitched for the first time since 2016, following two fluke injury-shortened seasons. With MadBum heading toward free agency, it was a great bounce-back campaign from one of the defining stars of the decade. Of course, it also inspired the Giants to keep him at the trade deadline as they briefly flirted with contention, which didn't turn out quite as well. -- Kahrl

    ICYMI: Mike Yaz -- HR in Fenway 'super special'

20. Los Angeles Angels
    2019 record: 70-86
    Week 24 ranking: 21

    Infielder David Fletcher is likely to end up the second-most valuable Angels player by WAR, which is something few expected back in March. Fletcher, in his second big league season, has played more than 35 games at three different infield positions -- and also has aided in the outfield -- and he easily will lead the club in hits. No, Fletcher is not much of a power hitter, but contact options remain important to a lineup, especially when they can handle most every position. Who knows what happens in 2020 or whether Fletcher secures a starting role, but for 2019 give the 25-year-old much credit. -- Karabell

21. San Diego Padres
    2019 record: 70-86
    Week 24 ranking: 20

    The firing of manager Andy Green on Saturday creates an attractive opening for the team's next prospective skipper, coming off a season in which rookies Chris Paddack and Fernando Tatis Jr. should pick up votes in the Rookie of the Year race and the team has had a strong core consisting of Manny Machado, Eric Hosmer and Kirby Yates. But the beneath-the-radar story of the Padres' second half has been Dinelson Lamet, who has a 3.20 ERA and 65 strikeouts in 45 innings in eight starts since Aug. 1. -- Cockcroft

    ICYMI: Why was Pads manager Andy Green fired?

22. Chicago White Sox
    2019 record: 68-87
    Week 24 ranking: 24

    The ChiSox's 2019 MVP, Lucas Giolito, may not have more to contribute this season now that he's shelved for the remainder of the season, but his emergence as a top-tier starter is a cornerstone development for a team emerging from a rebuild. Giolito has improved in every facet. His strikeouts are up by more than five per nine innings. His walks per nine have dropped from 4.7 to 2.9. And when everyone is hitting home runs, Giolito has given up fewer long balls than a season ago. He has been consistent and durable, traits increasingly rare among starting pitchers. The White Sox hope that a year or two from now we'll see Giolito as just one of their aces, but for the time being at least they have one. -- Doolittle

    ICYMI: Sox shut Giolito down with lat strain

23. Toronto Blue Jays
    2019 record: 63-93
    Week 24 ranking: 26

    Yes, he leads the Blue Jays in batting average (.276) and OPS (.789), but he is just seventh on the team with 15 home runs and his WAR logs in at 0.0. Still, the numbers matter not -- Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is the slam dunk MVP of the Jays for invigorating baseball in Toronto (and beyond) and providing great hope for years of excitement and electricity to come. -- Richards

    ICYMI: Biggios now second father-son duo to hit for cycles

24. Seattle Mariners
    2019 record: 66-90
    Week 24 ranking: 25

    No team has ever employed more players in one season than the 67 that have shuffled through Seattle in 2019. What, you don't remember Zac Rosscup, Parker Markel, David Freitas or Nick Rumbelow? Backup catcher Tom Murphy leads position players in WAR, which says everything you want to know about this team. But I'll give team MVP honors to Marco Gonzales, who has won 16 games with a 4.09 ERA, even more impressive considering Seattle's defense has been among the worst in the majors. -- Schoenfield

25. Colorado Rockies
    2019 record: 67-89
    Week 24 ranking: 23

    The Rockies continue to audition youngsters for potential 2020 roles this September, and one of their bright spots this month has been utility man Garrett Hampson. The 24-year-old rookie has made starts at second base, shortstop and center field; and he has batted .357/.410/.589 with three home runs and has seven stolen bases this month. -- Cockcroft

26. Pittsburgh Pirates
    2019 record: 65-91
    Week 24 ranking: 22

    With all due respect to Josh Bell, Adam Frazier and Bryan Reynolds, Starling Marte's performance seems to drive the Pirates' performance unlike any other player. He has been sidelined for the past 13 days with a wrist issue, during which time the Pirates are 2-9. In fact, accounting for any of Marte's absences this season, the Pirates are just 4-20 when he has been unavailable to play. -- Cockcroft

27. Kansas City Royals
    2019 record: 57-100
    Week 24 ranking: 27

    You'd like to see a team MVP be a little more well-rounded than Jorge Soler, but in absence of an obvious pick, his record-setting home run spree is enough to get the nod. Soler already has obliterated Mike Moustakas' single-season franchise mark for homers, and with Mike Trout out for the remainder of the season, Soler's next dinger will make him the Royals' first home run champion. He still defends like the designated hitter he ought to be, but Soler's power display has given Royals fans something to follow during a rebuilding season. -- Doolittle

28. Miami Marlins
    2019 record: 54-101
    Week 24 ranking: 28

    A fractured finger ended his season a month ago, but it reflects just how shallow a talent pool the Fish swim in that Brian Anderson still is the easy choice for most valuable Marlin. A defensive asset at third base and out in right field, like most non-Marlins he also had a breakout season at the plate, setting career highs in extra-base hits despite playing in 30 fewer games than in 2018. -- Kahrl

29. Baltimore Orioles
    2019 record: 51-105
    Week 24 ranking: 29

    For a team on pace for just 53 wins, the Orioles have a few reasonable choices for an MVP. Trey Mancini has an .889 OPS, 36 doubles, 34 home runs, 101 runs and 93 RBIs. Jonathan Villar has 3.9 WAR and 38 stolen bases. And Hanser Alberto has 3.1 WAR and a .310 batting average. But our co-MVPs are Chris Davis and Henry Frasca. Huh? Davis, with a .176/.268/.315 slash line and just 11 home runs to offset 134 whiffs? And who is Henry Frasca? He is a 9-year-old fan from Massachusetts who wrote a letter of encouragement to Davis during his record 0-for-54 stretch in April. Davis was so moved, he kept the letter with him throughout the season and spent the afternoon with Henry on a return trip to Fenway Park in August. After watching this video, we suspect you'll endorse our pick. -- Richards

30. Detroit Tigers
    2019 record: 46-109
    Week 24 ranking: 30

    A rough second half took a lot of the shine off Matthew Boyd's big campaign, but his first-half 3.87 ERA turned heads and his full-season 11.6 K/9, good for sixth in the majors, should keep them turned. And sure, while pitcher wins don't mean much, you try flirting with a .500 season (he is 9-11) while pitching for a team due to lose more than 110 games and featuring MLB's worst offense. -- Kahrl

Mr and Mrs Farag fight to regain Drexel trophies
By ELLIE MAWSON – Squash Mad Correspondent

The world’s top squash players will compete for the first PSA Platinum title of the 2019-20 season between October 5-12 at Philadelphia’s Drexel University as the draws for the 2019 FS Investments U.S. Open Squash Championships were released today.

The U.S. Open is one of eight prestigious Platinum events to take place during the 2019-20 PSA World Tour season, and this year’s tournament sees prize money increase by 10% to a record total of $371,000, which is split equally between male and female athletes for a seventh successive year.

Reigning champions Mohamed ElShorbagy and Raneem El Welily will return to defend their crowns, while men’s World No.1 Ali Farag and women’s World No.5 Nour El Tayeb will also aim to star in Philadelphia – two years after their U.S. Open triumphs saw them become the first married couple in sporting history ever to win the same major sports title on the same day.

World No.1 Farag leads the men’s draw and receives a bye into the second round where he will face either compatriot Karim Ali Fathi or England’s Daryl Selby. The 2017 tournament winner is seeded on the same side of the draw as the likes of World No.7 Mohamed Abouelghar, Peru’s World No.8 Diego Elias and former World No.1 Karim Abdel Gawad, who he could face in the semi-finals.

Seeded at the opposite side of the draw is defending men’s champion ElShorbagy. The World No.2 will take on either Spain’s Borja Golan or Mexico’s Arturo Salazar in round two.

Three-time winner ElShorbagy is seeded on the same side of the draw as the likes of Germany’s Simon Rosner, who he defeated in last year’s final to lift the title, along with New Zealand’s Paul Coll and Egypt’s World No.3 Tarek Momen, who he could meet in the last four of the PSA Platinum event.

Home favourite Todd Harrity, who reached the last 32 in Philadelphia last year, will play Australia’s Ryan Cuskelly in round one. Meanwhile, Brooklyn’s Andrew Douglas and Connecticut’s Spencer Lovejoy take the wildcard spots and face England’s Declan James and Egypt’s Mazen Hesham, respectively, in round one.

In the women’s draw, World No.1 El Welily leads the line-up and will line up against either wildcard Laila Sedky or Egypt’s Nadine Shahin in round two.

The Egyptian is seeded to come up against France’s World No.3 Camille Serme, who won the tournament back in 2016, in the semi-finals and also has England’s No.1 Sarah-Jane Perry and New Zealand’s World No.6 Joelle King on her side of the draw.

Reigning World Champion El Sherbini is situated at the opposite end of the draw and faces either wildcard Sabrina Sobhy or Egypt’s Mayar Hany in round two.

The two-time runner-up will be looking to get her hands on the coveted trophy for the first time in her career, but has the likes of 2019 British Open winner Nouran Gohar, World No.5 Nour El Tayeb and home favourite Amanda Sobhy standing in her way on her side of the draw.

United States No.1 Sobhy receives a bye into the second round where she will take on either compatriot Olivia Fiechter or England’s Emily Whitlock. Other home interest comes in the form of Team USA No.2 Olivia Blatchford-Clyne, who faces England’s Lucy Turmel in round one, while World No.42 Haley Mendez takes on Australia’s former World No.1 Rachael Grinham.

The U.S. Open gives players the first opportunity this season to qualify for June’s PSA World Tour Finals. The reigning PSA World Champions and all Platinum event winners automatically qualify for the World Tour Finals. The remaining places are allocated to the highest ranked players on the Road to Egypt Standings, and points for the standings will be on offer at all PSA World Tour events this season.

Glass court action from the U.S. Open will be staged in Drexel University’s Daskalakis Athletic Center, while matches on the traditional side courts will be held at Drexel University as well as the Racquet Club of Philadelphia.

Matches from the glass court will be streamed live on SQUASHTV (rest of world), Eurosport Player (Europe only), the official Facebook page of the PSA World Tour (excluding Europe and Japan) and various broadcast partners.

Tickets start from $30 and are available for purchase through the tournament website.

2019 FS Investments U.S. Open Squash Championships, Drexel University, Philadelphia, USA.

Men’s draw:
[1] Ali Farag (EGY) [Bye]
Karim Ali Fathi (EGY) v [17/32] Daryl Selby (ENG)
[17/32] Adrian Waller (ENG) v Eain Yow Ng (MAS)
[9/16] Miguel Rodriguez (COL) [Bye]
[17/32] Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) v Youssef Ibrahim (EGY)
Todd Harrity (USA) v [17/32] Ryan Cuskelly (AUS)
[17/32] Greg Lobban (SCO) v Cameron Pilley (AUS)
[7] Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY) [Bye]
[8] Diego Elias (PER) [Bye]
George Parker (ENG) v [17/32] Tom Richards (ENG)
[9/16] Joel Makin (WAL) [Bye]
Iker Parajes Bernabeu (ESP) v [17/32] Tsz Fung Yip (HKG)
[17/32] Cesar Salazar (MEX) v Alan Clyne (SCO)
[9/16] Gregoire Marche (FRA) [Bye]
[17/32] Mostafa Asal (EGY) v Ramit Tandon (IND)
[4] Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) [Bye]
[3] Tarek Momen (EGY) [Bye]
Abdulla Mohd Al Tamimi (QAT) v [17/32] Leo Au (HKG)
[9/16] Fares Dessouky (EGY) [Bye]
Lucas Serme (FRA) v [17/32] Raphael Kandra (GER)
[9/16] Marwan ElShorbagy (EGY) [Bye]
[9/16] Zahed Salem (EGY) [Bye]
[17/32] Nicolas Mueller (SUI) v Richie Fallows (ENG)
[5] Simon Rosner (GER) [Bye]
[6] Paul Coll (NZL) [Bye]
[9/16] Saurav Ghosal (IND) [Bye]
[17/32] Mazen Hesham (EGY) v [WC] Spencer Lovejoy (USA)
[9/16] Omar Mosaad (EGY) [Bye]
[17/32] Youssef Soliman (EGY) v Campbell Grayson (NZL)
[WC] Andrew Douglas (USA) v [17/32] Declan James (ENG)
[17/32] Borja Golan (ESP) v Arturo Salazar (MEX)
[2] Mohamed ElShorbagy (EGY) [Bye]

Women’s draw:
[1] Raneem El Welily (EGY) [Bye]
[WC] Laila Sedky (USA) v [17/32] Nadine Shahin (EGY)
[17/32] Julianne Courtice (ENG) v Danielle Letourneau (CAN)
[16] Yathreb Adel (EGY) [Bye]
[11] Alison Waters (ENG) [Bye]
Sivasangari Subramaniam (MAS) v [17/32] Joey Chan (HKG)
[17/32] Hollie Naughton (CAN) v Alexandra Fuller (RSA)
[7] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) [Bye]
[6] Joelle King (NZL) [Bye]
Lucy Turmel (ENG) v [17/32] Olivia Blatchford Clyne (USA)
[17/32] Rowan Elaraby (EGY) v Ho Tze-Lok (HKG)
[12] Victoria Lust (ENG) [Bye]
[15] Hania El Hammamy (EGY) [Bye]
Nada Abbas (EGY) v [17/32] Zeina Mickawy (EGY)
[17/32] Tinne Gilis (BEL) v Lisa Aitken (SCO)
[3] Camille Serme (FRA) [Bye]
[4] Nouran Gohar (EGY) [Bye]
Tsz-Wing Tong (HKG) v [17/32] Nele Gilis (BEL)
[17/32] Mariam Metwally (EGY) v Low Wee Wern (MAS)
[14] Salma Hany (EGY) [Bye]
[9] Tesni Evans (WAL) [Bye]
Coline Aumard (FRA) v [17/32] Millie Tomlinson (ENG)
[17/32] Milou van der Heijden (NED) v Melissa Alves (FRA)
[5] Nour El Tayeb (EGY) [Bye]
[8] Amanda Sobhy (USA) [Bye]
Olivia Fiechter (USA) v [17/32] Emily Whitlock (ENG)
[17/32] Donna Lobban (AUS) v Liu Tsz-Ling (HKG)
[13] Joshna Chinappa (IND) [Bye]
[10] Annie Au (HKG) [Bye]
Haley Mendez (USA) v [17/32] Rachael Grinham (AUS)
[17/32] Mayar Hany (EGY) v [WC] Sabrina Sobhy (USA)
[2] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) [Bye]

Article by ELLIE MAWSON (PSA). Edited by ALAN THATCHER.
 

Pictures courtesy of PSA